Sun Star | Story

	From the desk of the Editor: The times they are a'changin'
	by Casey Grove Sun Star Editor

	It is fall again in Fairbanks, and the leaves are turning gold, about to flutter through the sky. The first hints of change are here, mostly in the form of an occasional chilly breeze or a wisp of frost coming from an exhaled breath, and once again it's time to welcome students to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As a lifelong resident of Fairbanks, I've been here for 23 falls and the views you see gazing out across the valley from our little hill never cease to amaze me. Soon it will all turn from green to yellow, and then to white. Whether you've been here for years, or this is your first time in the Golden Heart City, it's particularly easy to see the beauty of our small town during this transitional time of year. It's easy to see the university as being in a time of transition as well. Physically, UAF is changing every day. Among several major construction projects, the most notable is probably the impressive new UA Museum of the North with its swooping arcs and impossible looking angles. Inside, the museum will house thousands more exhibits than before, feature an ever-changing art collection the likes of which Fairbanks has never seen, and besides, it looks to me like a comfortable, stimulating place to hang out (plus there will be food there). Despite the ongoing troubles with construction, the museum is going to be something we can all be proud of for years to come. The university also has a new entrance at the Tanana Loop roundabout with the recent opening of Morris Thompson Drive. Construction of the nearby Cold Climate Housing Research Center is underway and will add another cutting-edge research facility. One change that I'm excited about is the addition of a swim team. Growing up in this town (Standing on West Ridge, I can point to my elementary school, middle school and high school) it's impossible to miss the popularity and competitiveness of swimming here. Swimmers are some of the hardest working, team-oriented people I've ever met, and with the local and out-of-town talent they have signed, the Nanook swim team is sure to smoke their competition. Of course, the biggest difference this year for us at the Sun Star is our new office. Yes, that's right, we've been moved, and I'm still not sure what to think about it. To be honest, when we were first told that the Sun Star would be moved I was a little peeved. The old office was our home, our haven away from the rest of the world, and I was apprehensive to give it up. I also felt that the decision to sacrifice our space for the benefit of someone else meant that we were less important in the eyes of the Wood Center staff. But after talking with Wood Center Director Lydia Anderson and Associate Director Sarah Comstock, it became pretty clear that our wellbeing did matter to them and that this move was absolutely necessary for the Wood Center. Now, months later, I am writing to you from our new home. It's still a little rough around the edges, but we're already getting settled in. The Wood Center did a great job moving us in and getting everything—including phones and computers—set up and running. It looks great, and though I still miss the old office, this one is a perfect replacement. Not only does it have carpet, but there's even a window directly in front of me as I write this, a portal to the outside world. More and more frequently students are walking by, some with their parents visiting campus for orientation, and I can already see a few yellowed leaves making their way to the ground. That can only mean one thing: Welcome to UAF!
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August 30, 2005